Power Struggle Grips Ruling Camp
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
To rub salt into an already open wound of the governing camp over the controversial U.S. beef import deal, top aides to President Lee Myung-bak traded accusations Sunday as to who should be held accountable for the beef fiasco.
Political observers called it the beginning of a test of authority among the ruling forces.
On Saturday, Rep. Chung Doo-un, 50, considered one of the closest confidants of President Lee, first launched a salvo at unidentified senior presidential aides and a Grand National Party (GNP) lawmaker.
In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, he publicly criticized them for wielding unmatched influence over personnel appointments, saying they are ``privatizing presidential power.''
He argued their reckless power abuse resulted in forming the so-called ``Gang Bu Ja'' Cabinet, a derivative word from public scorning of President Lee's Cabinet filled with rich real estate moguls located in Seoul's affluent Gangnam area. ``Bu Ja'' means rich people in Korean. Gang Bu-ja is a famous TV actress.
Some Cabinet ministers and nominees, such as Park Mi-seok, former senior presidential secretary for social policy, have already been removed since the inauguration of the Lee government in the wake of a slew of scandals related to illegal real estate transactions.
``Actually, this is no secret in the ruling camp,'' Chung said in a statement Sunday. ``People don't usually reveal the truth for fear of backlash, but I decided to talk about the problems because I thought that should be first thing to do before resolving other problems.''
``I'll make utmost efforts as an ordinary party member to help the success of the Lee administration, which was established on people's sacrifice, blood and sweat,'' he added.
Some political analysts cautiously expect Chung's public criticism of Cheong Wa Dae aides to affect Lee's forthcoming reshuffle of his top aides and ministers to an extent, while others say this remains to be seen.
Last week, all seven presidential secretaries tendered their resignations amid growing public anger over the resumption of U.S. beef imports. A Cheong Wa Dae source also said Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and all other Cabinet ministers are expected to tender their resignations.
President Lee is expected to accept the offers on a selective basis and replace half a dozen ministers involved in the U.S. beef import deal, he said. They include Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun and Finance Minister Kang Man-soo, according to him.
Chung was a key figure who led Lee's campaign strategy in the run up to the Dec. 19 presidential election. Before that, he served as the chief policy adviser to Lee when he was Seoul Mayor.
Chung declined to reveal who the presidential aides he pointed out were, but local reports identified some of them as Lee's chief of staff Yu Woo-ik, chief presidential secretary for policy planning Park Young-jun and Rep. Lee Sang-deuk of the GNP, an elder brother of the President.
Secretary Park strongly denounced Chung.
``Chung's claims just don't make sense,'' Park said in an interview with a local daily Sunday. ``The President is well aware of the importance of Cabinet ministers. He's in charge of appointing them, not others.''
Park said he believed Chung made such comments to tighten his grip on the ruling camp, remembering Chung's failure to become a Cabinet member in Lee's first Cabinet formation.
A GNP lawmaker said on condition of anonymity, ``There's a sign that an internal struggle is beginning surrounding the President. This is not desirable for all, whether the President, the party or the people.''